Oxygen vacancy enhancing the Fe2O3-CeO2 catalysts in Fenton-like reaction for the sulfamerazine degradation under O2 atmosphere

Abstract To develop an efficient and reusable heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst is a great challenge for its application in practical water treatment. Effective oxygen vacancy (OVs)-promoted Fe 2 O 3 -CeO 2 catalyst was prepared by a sol-gel method, and applied in the heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction of the sulfamerazine (SMR) degradation. The Fe 2 O 3 -CeO 2 catalyst showed good activity and stability, and total SMR conversion was achieved in the Fenton-like reaction after 75 min at pH 3.0 and 45 °C under O 2 atmosphere. Moreover, the SMR removal was significantly enhanced under O 2 atmosphere. The surface-bounded OH radicals played a dominant role for the SMR degradation. The Fe 2 O 3 -CeO 2 catalyst remarkably promoted the generation of OH in the Fenton-like reaction under O 2 atmosphere, mostly because abundant OVs on the catalyst surface not only accelerated electron transfer to promote the H 2 O 2 decomposition, but also oxygen molecules, adsorbed on OVs, formed O 2 − /HO 2 and promoted the Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ redox cycle.